In a culmination of a protracted legal conflict, a Korean Buddhist statue dating back to the 14th century was returned to its rightful location in Japan after being stolen nearly 13 years ago. The event marked the resolution of a dispute that had somewhat strained the already sensitive relations between Japan and South Korea. The statue’s return was met with applause from members of Kannonji Temple and local residents as a truck carried it to the temple located on Tsushima, a western island of Japan.
The statue, a gilt bronze Bodhisatva revered for its representation of mercy and compassion, stands approximately 50 centimeters high in a sitting posture. Following its return, the statue is set to be showcased in a local museum after a welcoming ceremony at the temple. It is classified as a cultural asset of the region and was one of two statues stolen from Kannonji back in 2012 by thieves intending to sell them in South Korea.
The South Korean authorities managed to recover one of the stolen artifacts swiftly and returned it promptly to Japan. However, the Bodhisatva statue became embroiled in a legal battle when Buseoksa, a South Korean temple located in Seosan, lodged a lawsuit claiming ownership. In a significant development, South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Japanese temple in 2023, mandating the return of the statue. Before its return to Japan, the statue was displayed in a farewell exhibit for 100 days at the South Korean temple.
Despite the conclusion of the legal proceedings, the South Korean temple expressed sorrow over the outcome, with the chief monk, Woonou, indicating that their followers were profoundly upset and maintained that the statue was initially “plundered” from Korea, deserving global reproach.
Sekko Tanaka, a former chief monk of Kannonji, shared that the official transfer of the statue in Seosan was amicable, describing it as “a calm after a storm” and expressing relief at seeing the matter resolved during his lifetime. Tanaka extended a friendly invitation to South Koreans to visit Tsushima to explore its longstanding cultural connections with Korea, emphasizing that the statue will be under tightened security.
This resolution comes in the wake of numerous historical disputes between Japan and South Korea, particularly relating to Japan’s actions during its occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945. However, despite these challenges, both nations have shown efforts toward improving relations, driven by mutual concerns regarding regional security.